A federal judge has blocked U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) head Kari Lake’s attempt to remove Voice of America (VOA) Director Michael Abramowitz, ruling that her efforts exceeded her authority.
Lake, appointed by President Donald Trump to oversee the agency, has sought to downsize VOA and remove Abramowitz, who earns nearly $380,000 annually. Abramowitz has been on paid leave since March.
Court Ruling
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, a Reagan appointee, upheld Abramowitz’s position, pointing to the structure of VOA’s oversight board.
“To the extent the Board’s current lack of quorum institutes a practical barrier to removing Abramowitz, the Broadcast Act gives the President a straightforward remedy: replacing the removed members,” Lamberth wrote.
Trump had removed all members of the advisory board in January, but replacements have not yet been confirmed by the Senate.
Lake’s Response
Lake blasted the ruling, calling it “absurd” and vowed to appeal.
“Elections have consequences, and President Trump runs the executive branch. I have confidence that the Constitution will eventually be enforced, even if not by Judge Lamberth and other radical district judges,” Lake said.
She added that she faces multiple lawsuits tied to her downsizing push. “I’ve got a judge who’s threatening me with contempt of court, throwing me in prison, if I don’t produce more of the propaganda that he wants me to produce,” she told supporters.
Conflict Over Downsizing
Lake’s efforts to cut staff at VOA and USAGM have drawn repeated legal challenges. Judge Lamberth previously criticized her restructuring plans as “verging on contempt.”
On August 1, Abramowitz was told by senior USAGM adviser John Zadrozny that he would be dismissed after refusing an offer to run a North Carolina broadcasting station. He has since sued Lake over her downsizing attempts.
Background
Critics of VOA have long accused the agency of mismanagement. Lake herself has claimed that VOA’s Mandarin service once maintained ties with Chinese officials, pointing to meetings at the Chinese embassy in Washington.
Despite the court setback, Lake has pledged to continue her push to reduce staffing and overhaul VOA.
